Up & Down Spending
Wedding costs aren’t diminishing in every category
By Timothy R. Schulte CTW Features
No industry is immune to the belt-tightening going on during the current recession. That includes the wedding industry, which saw a 24 percent decrease in spending between 2007 and 2008, dropping from an average cost of $28,704 to $21,814, according to industry tracker The Wedding Report, Tucson, Ariz.
But while some areas of spending fell – such as transportation and videography, both of which also saw a 24-percent decrease – some areas increased:
- Tuxedo/suit increased by 47 percent
- Ceremony location increased by 108 percent
- Bride bouquet increased by 1 percent
- Brides wedding band increased by 21 percent
- Grooms wedding band increased by 38 percent
- Reception bar service increased by 12 percent
- Reception location increased by 15 percent
- Reception rentals increased by 84 percent
According to The Wedding Report, the reasons for increase include:
- A desire for unique ceremony and reception locations
- The same venue being used for both the ceremony and reception caused increase in location cost and rentals.
- Couples focusing less on engagement rings and more on wedding bands.
